Universal History Annotation << Back THE CONTRIBUTION OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR, SERVICEMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE USSR IN CREATING AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BAIKONUR COSMODROME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SPACE AGE V.M. Latanov, O.A. Kurbatov The article is devoted to the study of the contribution of participants of the great Patriotic war, military builders, testers and specialists in the creation and formation of the Baikonur cosmodrome at the beginning of the space era. It is said that in the cold war, the interests of strengthening the country's defense capability required decisive measures to build a new spaceport for testing the R-7 Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as a means of delivering nuclear ammunition to the territory of a likely enemy. The article reveals the problems faced by the pioneers in the construction of the new Baikonur cosmodrome, as well as the implementation of a number of domestic rocket and space programs. The authors conclude that participants of the great Patriotic war, members of the armed Forces of the USSR, military builders, military test engineers and specialists made a huge contribution to the creation and development of the cosmodrome in the first decade of its operation and in the following years. With the dedicated efforts of these workers of Baikonur, together with scientists, designers, ministries and departments of the country, the world's first spaceport was created in the shortest possible time. Keywords: participant of the great Patriotic war, Baikonur cosmodrome, Intercontinental ballistic missile, artificial earth satellite, combat crew, spacecraft, launch vehicle, earth orbit. DOI: 10.25791/vseist.01.2020.1092 Pp. 14-24.